Pilot lamp mounting



March 20, 1951 H. P. ALLEN PILOT LAMP MOUNTING Filed Oct. 29, 1949 INVENTOR HAROLD P. ALLEN WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 20, 1951 PILio'r'LAMP MOUNTING Wstinghduse Elec'tric GorporatimnrEast-Pitt 1* burgh,ilPa;,iwa corporation of-Tennsylvania;

Apfil licationOcliobliwi 1949,;SpriafN0. 12,4,315

7 Glaims: :(Cl. 177*??329) w" This invention relates 'to an arrangement for mounting a pilotlamp'ona panel, andit has for an-object' to provide-"a structure whereby the A morespecific-object-is toprovide a pilot'lamp' mounting arrangement inwhich a single screw is utilized to act as 'a fastening, memberrri It is a'still more :specificobjectto provide a pilot lampimounting arrangement" which may' be quickly locked-in-"positionor-unlocked for replaoingth'e lamp "WithOUt completelyremoving H the'mounting screw.

In ranges;-smal1='electric appliances and radios, a pilotl'amp-is generally'mounted' behind'a small opening in a panel, the opening being covered by a light-transmitting=g1ass or plastic lens: 7 The lainp may serve to notify the operator that a air-- cuit is "on-or oifg' orthat the temperature ofthe appliance is too highjtoolow-or as desired. Since the lamps are small-"and thepanelopenings-are small also, it has heretofore been-a difiicult and delicate task *to replace a defective lamp.

Myimprovedpilotlamp mounting arrangement I includesa hinged bracketwhich is helol in posi.

tion by a single mounting screws When the screw is loosened-,the bracket-maybe rotated-;=swinging the lamp through the panel openin'g-whereit maybeeasily'removed and -replaced.'-

For a morecomplete-understanding ofmy-in'- vention; reference should be had-to the accompanyingdrawing in Which-"5 Fig? l is a perspective-view of a portion of an electric range; ywith"'my -invention. incorporated therein;

Fi g.-=2 is aperspective-view'of a pilot lainpandbracket-assembly;

Fig.4 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a replaced} Fig.-'5 is-a fragmentary perspeotive' view of a panel, showing another embodiment of -my in vention'; and

Fig. 1.

Referring to" the drawing in detail; and' espe cially -Fige'l, I have shown my invention incor-' poratedin anaelectric range Whavin'g a top platform-"'4 2 "forn1'ed -with a backsplashe'r panel I Although anv"number -of--pilot lamps may be" A mounted; as desired;'be'hind the panel-44; I have=--" shown twopilot lamp-structures I 6 and I8 wh'ich' 'are *composed inthis-instance, of identical parts and =are 'the'same except-that the lampstructure 1 6 *is a lef-t hand mount while -the 1amp-structure Iii-is a right-hand mountas willQbe explained-a later.

As best=-shown in-Fig'sr-Q, 4 and" 6, -lainp*-structure=l8 hasan L-shapedmountingbracket 20' comprising-an arm 22 l-iavi-ngan elongated-slot 24 and an arm 26. A lamp socket 3U having an ternally threaded 'ferrule portidnfi-l iis-imounted rigidly to thebracketarm-Z 6" in such 'awmanner as to"-be disposedwithin= the bight formed by their? bracketarrnS -Z'Z and 26;"the ferrulei32 bei-ng in: sertedi'nanopening in the armandbe'inglocked therein by' nut Mi -"The lainp socket may ibe -of-----' toith leftdf a' somewhat l'argeropening tm therer being an integral rib: portion 42 =between= the-' openings. The -bracket -2J"is' clamped to the rib- I- 42 'by 'a screw M which is inserted" through the opening @455 and is so -disposed--that-.=the arm 2 b extends in'w-ardlyi through the opening 383 The arm 22-isLprefefab1y widerthanz the rib dz'and: partly overlaps: the opening 40 to provideiamoverhang grip portion-for facilitating'movement of the-bracket as will be later explained.

The" panel opening 4Ul1'i's substantially larger th'anthe lamp 3S 'topermit-'removal==therethrough. To pazrtially cover -the' 5opening;: a "shieldg liiiis i mounted in registry. therewith: by -the screws: 44.1 An elo'ngated opening 41 maybe" provided in the shieldlfor -th'is purposez-- The-screw 4414's substantiallylonger than -th combinedthickness of the;

rectangular topenin'g or window 5fl' is also provided which is somewhat smaller than thel-amp fifi and permits -orfly a portion of thel-ight to' be -transmittedto-the'front of the-panel Mi- Thawindow;

tliiisacts'to restrict'the-amountof visible light a-ndl also acts to outline the shape of the pilot light as desired.

The pilot lamp structure i8 is completely hidden by a metal trim strip 52 which may be fastened to the panel M in any conventional manner. The trim strip is provided with an opening within which is mounted a glass or plastic light transmitting lens 56 in registry With the window 50. It will now be seen that when the lamp 3% is energized, its light will be transmitted through the window 50 to the lens '56 and through the lens to the observer.

To replace the lamp 36, the pilot lamp structure I8 is first exposed by "removing the trim strip 52. The screw 44 is then partially withdrawn and. the shield 46 is pulled away from the opening 4!) and swung to a vertical position as shown in Fig. 4. With the shield in this position, a portion of the bracket arm 22 is exposed and may be grasped and pulled forward by the thumb of the left hand. The bracket will pivot about the rib 42 in clockwise direction looking down, causing the lamp socket 30 and its lamp 3'5 to swing forward through the opening All. With the lamp in this position it is completely accessible and may easily be removed by the right hand. After the lamp is replaced, the above sequence of operations is reversed to restore the panel to its original condition. It will be noted that the slot 24 will permit the bracket 2!} to swing through a wide arc. The length of the slot may be varied as desired to permit desired movement of the lamp. I

The pilot lamp structure 55 is identical to the pilot lamp structure l8 already described. However, its manner of mounting to the panel It is such that it may be termed a left-hand mount, since the lamp 35 faces in the opposite direction, that is, to the left. As described in conjunction with pilot lamp structure It, an opening 53 is provided in the panel [4 to the left of, and adjacent the opening 38, the two openings having a rib portion 60 therebetween. All other parts are the same, hence they need no further de scription. However, it will be seen that the lamp bracket 29 is disposed so that its arm 26 extends inwardly through the opening 38 and its arm 22 extends to the left. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the opening 38 serves both pilot lamp structures. The trim strip 52 is provided with a lens which may be identical to the lens 55.

To replace the lamp in the pilot lamp structure 16, the trim strip 52 is removed and the screw 42 is partially withdrawn as before. The shield E6 is then swung to a vertical position, exposing a portion of the bracket arm 22 which may be grasped by the thumb of the right hand and pulled forward. The lamp 3% and the socket 32 will be pivoted about the rib til and moved forwardly through the opening 58. In this posi-' tion, the lamp may be removed and replaced with the left hand.

Although a right-hand pilot lamp structure and a left-hand pilot lamp structure have been described, it is obvious that either may be used as desired, and that they need not be formed in pairs.

The pilot lamp structures 16 and i8 already described may be designated the pull-out type; since as previously explained, the lamp 3B is swung through the panel opening by a pulling motion of the thumb.

Another embodiment of my novel pilot lamp structure, as shown in Fig. 5, may be termed a push-in type. In this embodiment, the lamp 36 may be swung forward through a panel opening by a pushing motion of the fingers. A pilot lamp structure generally designated 66 is shown, having component parts which may be identical with the parts comprising the pilot lamp structures I6 and H3. The lamp socket 30, however, is mounted to the L-shaped bracket 20 in such a manner as to be disposed outside the bight formed by the arms 22 and 25. An opening 40a is provided in the panel !4 adjacent to the opening 38. The opening 40a may be the same width as opening 48 previously described, but is preferably longer to accommodate the socket 30 in addition to the lamp 36. The bracket 20 is attached to the rib 42 in such a manner that the bracket arm 26 extends rearwardly through the opening 46a and the bracket arm 22 partially overlies the opening 38. All the other parts may be mounted in the same relationship as described in the first embodiment.

To replace an inoperative lamp in the pilot lamp structure 53, the trim strip 52 is first removed. The screw 44 is then partially backed out of the rib 42 a sufficient amount to allow the pilot lamp structure to be moved freely. The shield as is then disengaged from the panel opening 29a and swung out of the way to a vertical position. The lamp and socket is now unobstructed and may be swung forward through the opening 350. by pushing the left edge of the bracket arm 22 with a finger of the left hand. The lamp 3 3 may be easily replaced using the right hand.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the pilot lamp structure 66 may be termed a right-hand mount, since the lam is manipulated with the right hand. Although a lefthand mount has not been shown or described in conjunction with the push-in type, obviously such a type may be provided by inverting the entire structure and panel openings 38 and Mia.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A pilot lamp mounting arrangement including, in combination, a sheet material panel having a first and a second opening and a common rib portion disposed between said openings, an angular bracket having a first and a second arm, said first arm extending rearwardly through said first opening and having a lamp socket adapted to support a lam-p directly behind one of said openings, said second arm having an aperture for mounting purposes, a screw passing through said aperture and normally fastening said bracket to said rib, said screw being substantially longer than the combined thickness of said rib and said second arm, said aperture being, larger than the cross section of said screw, angular movement of said bracket about said rib as a pivot being thereby permitted when said screw is partially withdrawn, and said one opening being of suiiicient size to permit said socket to be moved at least partially therethrough by. such angular movement.

2. A pilot lamp mounting arrangement including, in combination, a sheet material panel having a first opening and a second opening and a common rib portion disposed between said openings, an angular brackethaving a first and a second arm, said first arm extending rearwardly I through said first opening and having a lamp socket mounted thereon, said socket being disposed within the bight of said bracket and adapted to support a lamp directly behind said second opening and said second arm having an aperture for mounting purposes, a screw passing through said aperture and normally fastening said bracket to said rib, said screw being substantially longer than the combined thickness of said rib and said second arm, said aperture being larger than the cross section of said screw, angular movement of said bracket about said rib as a pivot being thereby permitted whensaid screw is partially withdrawn, and said second opening being of sufiicient size to permit movement of said socket at least partially therethrough to a position in which a lamp in the socket is accessible for removal.

3. The structure recited in claim 2 in which said second arm extends beyond said rib to provide an overhanging grip portion to facilitate the movement of said bracket.

4. The structure recited in claim 2 and further including a lamp shield member normally overlying said second opening and fastened to said second arm by said screw, said member having a window substantially smaller than said second opening.

5. The structure recited in claim 2 and further including a lamp shield normally overlying said second opening and fastened to said second arm by said screw, said shield having marginal portions adapted to engage the marginal portions of said panel defining said second opening.

6. A pilot lamp mounting arrangement including, in combination, a sheet material panel having a first opening and a second opening and a common rib portion disposed between said openings, an angular bracket having a first and a second arm, said first arm extending rearwardly through said first opening and having a lamp socket mounted thereon, said socket being adapted to support a lamp directly behind said first opening, and said second arm having an aperture for mounting purposes, a screw passing through said aperture and normally fastening said bracket to said rib, said screw being substantially longer than the combined thickness of said rib and said second arm, said aperture being larger than the cross section of said screw, angular movement of said bracket about said rib as a pivot being thereby permitted when said screw is partially withdrawn, and said first opening being of sufficient size to permit movement of said socket at least partially therethrough to a position in which a lamp in the socket may be removed.

7. The structure recited in claim 6 in which said second arm extends beyond said rib and partially overlies said second opening to provide an overhanging grip portion to facilitate the movement of said bracket.

HAROLD P. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,871,748 Schramm Aug. 16, 1932 2,207,507 Douglas July 9, 1940 2,346,237 Rutenber Apr. 11, 1944 2,465,753 Ross, Jr Mar. 29, 1949 

